The Murse

According to the most reliable source on the internet, www.urbandictionary.com, the murse can be defined as:

Combining the words man and purse into one word; has the same definition as man purse. (4th defnition)

or

A man's designer bag, to hold a laptop and other man supplies, such as bongs, pipes and firearms.

The second definition given suddenly rectifies referring to a man's bag as a "purse", doesn't it? Although I don't personally approve of any firearms. Or vessels used to smoke weed. Or any kind of smoking for that matter.


That being said, let us delve into the world of murses!

They're all chic in their own way, and can be carried using a shoulder strap so that they resemble a messenger bag or by using the handles so they look like...well...a purse. But a manly one.

I guess it's about time the fashion industry started coming up with these things. We keep talking about how women should be given the right to wear pants and be on the same level as our male counterparts, so why shouldn't guys be allowed to be more fashionable? Plus, at least now if there's a formal or classy event guys don't have to walk around with their grungy backpacks or have bulky pockets (which are as unappealing as the grungy backpacks, by the way).

Now, these things are just like our feminine purses in the sense that it has a lot of pockets and zippers inside. Only difference is they're probably going to be more organized and the owners won't be perpetually looking for something underneath all the paraphernalia we women tend to keep in our bags.

Here's a great example of a manly man purse. This one's by 2unfold and it's handcrafted in Italy. The great thing about this is that it can be used in several ways, one being using it as a laptop bag. Oh oh! And looks good on women too!

Hm. I wonder why we don't call our bags wurses.



Images are from www.bagbliss.com and Trendhunter.com and are not being used by me for any commercial purposes.

Movie My Life

I have finally come across a "new" designer that I have decided will be my new favourite. Pardon the fashion blog newbie, but I have to admit that I am still most familiar with only the most known and copied-by-China-to-sell-at-cheapo-markets labels like Gucci, Prada, and the ever present Louis Vuitton.

So recently, while investing my time in browsing through a site filled with perfectly structured faces and stick thin bodies, I came across Fashion Week photos for Fall-Winter 2010. Among the top featured shows was that of Y3.

The photos were in black and white so nothing that had to do with colour attracted me, but the concept was interesting. There were models sent to run up and down the runway, and there were more sets of models that walked out, took off their trenchcoats and tossed them at the crowd. Fun, fun.

Although quite frankly the lack of coloured photos made the clothes appear less appealing. But out of boredom (the legally accepted term for procrastination), I decided to google HIM: Yohji Yamamoto.

This is what I found:

This is just one of his many creations that involved black with punches of bright colours. Note how it is casual but not too ordinary to suit only the very best of wall flowers.

And then I found even more photos from the same show:

Yes, the whole male navel peaking out at you thing bothers me too a bit, but that's not the point.

Ever since I started designing and making port folios for class I developed a liking towards darker skin tones because let's face it: darker skin tones look good in bright colours and crazy combinations (not that black and red is anywhere near crazy). Besides, I think that there are too little darker skinned models. Which is funny because I think a lot of them are extremely attractive.

Hmmm.... just thinking, since we seem to have the same leaning towards using such models, wouldn't it be great if by some chance when he googles himself next time, he stumbles upon my blog? Yeah...then he can be all "hmmm... we have the same taste and she mentioned designing. She can be my protege!"

Hahaha. Well, some people do have movie-quality lives. Why not mine?





P.S. If you know Yohji Yamamoto by any chance please drop him my name!

*Images were pulled from hiddengarments.cn and fashiondailymag.com and are not being used by me for any commercial purposes

Colour Chip

Who could forget the dainty cigarette holder? The beehive hairdo? How about the large sun glasses? We all have to admit that Audrey Hepburn is one of the most unforgettable style icons that ever came to be.

Who can forget how she was the one that debuted what the biggest fashionistas now consider a closet staple: the little black dress?

I think the reason behind the booming success of this garment was how it was at first a little controversial.

You see, wearing a black dress on any occasion outside mourning used to be considered inappropriate, but when Breakfast in Tiffany's came out into the public in 1963, everyone finally woke up and realized black was a sexy colour. (And a good thing too because almost all my dresses are black and I cannot imagine only being able to wear them when I'm mourning.)

Now, Dolce & Gabbana has created a line that reminds me so much of Audrey Hepburn's style. The sunglasses and hair are down pat, and the dresses... Who knew the little black dress could come in so many variations?

Really, how anyone could overlook the style potential of black is beyond me.
Then again I do have to admit other colours can look cute too when put in the right combinations (meaning no forest greens and purples lest you want to resemble Barney the singing dinosaur).

But really, how could anyone not see using black undoubtably adds a touch of sleekness and sophistication to anything and everything?

Think about it. Black couches: classy. Black mobile phones: professional. Black leather-bound notebooks: inspiring and intelligent. Black cars: oh so sleek. Black dresses: very sexy. Black dentures: ...


...okay, maybe not that.


*All images are from www.dolcegabbana.com and is not being used by me for commercial purposes

Male Men

I have to commend anyone who manages to make a men's line without going over the top. I never had an easy time designing for guys, you know? At least not for ready to wear things. Think about it, guys with puff sleeves or ruffles anywhere on their clothes would probably not make a pretty sight when walking down the street.

Fortunately enough, every year there are designers and labels out there that have enough creative juice to come up with tasteful men's lines. Take Gucci, for example.

Okay, so I'm not a huge fan of white pants on men, but on the right guys it looks hot. On this guy it looks hot. Haha. Must be the straight dark, long locks that make it work.

Being the Fall-Winter collection, it goes without saying that the collection will feature a few or so coats.

I have a thing for double-breasted things so these two quickly climbed to the top of my favourite list. Especially the one to the right. And oh look! These two are wearing white pants too!

The others that caught my eye in this line caught my eye for entirely different reasons.
Let's take a look at the first one and let's see if you get why:

And there it is: the leopard print jacket. For men.

I don't like animal prints in particular because growing up, my sisters and I had this joke about how our aunt thought that animal prints meant "love" (You have to imagine saying that word in a low jazzy voice). And now I see "love". All over a guy. No thank you.

Although I'll give the guy some credit and say that he could be cute. If he lost the jacket and reached for the nearest cheese burger. Is it just me or are male models beginning to become just as skinny as female size zero models?

Anyway, back to the rest of line:

This coat looks like a lengthened leather jacket. Sort of tough, but sort of smart. Looks like something a rebellious but brilliant guy would wear to university. While he drives around in his black convertible. And wears black-tinted aviators.

Ho Hum. Imagination's running wild.


All images are found on www.gucci.com

La Fea y La Hermosa

Meet the Queen of Tunis in 1513:

Yes, I'm aware she is far from the most attractive thing in the world (my Mom even speculates she could be the missing link), but this one portrait is what inspired artists such as the legendary Da Vinci to look for and sketch all the "Grotesque Heads" he could find.

Recently, I have found, even the directors of Chanel were inspired by this as well.

See the resemblance? Okay, not really. But whenever I see hair like that I remember that portrait. You gotta admit they're similar, right? Right? Sans the veil. And the ribbon. And the...Fine. The only thing that's the same is the silhouette. Kinda.

Seriously speaking now, Chanel came up with a number of good, quirky styles for their 2010 Haute Couture Collection that I appreciated. Take these for example:

I thought the whole necktie trend was out as soon as Avril Lavigne was not the hottest thing on the planet anymore, but Chanel has proved me wrong. Not to mention, it has also proven all the people who said ties for formal events belong only on men.

The dress on the left I like because of the ruffles peaking out of the solid dress, but the one on the left I especially like because of how the empire cut is done a la directoire period -- mostly white with a short jacket that comes up higher than the waist. Of course, in the 1790s the skirt wasn't that short, but that's a pleasant modernized twist.

Now this would definitely be incomplete without mention of one eye catching thing: the shoes!

Elegant, no? But I can't help but wonder which tables have legs a few inches shorter now. Kidding. In all seriousness, the heels are wonderful and I would love to own a pair. To go with my table cloth. No, just joking. Okay, I'll stop now.

*Images from http://samknowsgoodlook.blogspot.com/2010/01/chanel-pe-2010-haute-couture.html

Nostalgic No No

Marc Jacobs. My opinion of him from the start could be defined in two words: eccentric genius.

I love everything he comes up with.I love him! I even wrote a lengthy term paper about him. I don't know, but I just have to admire how he takes risks, like going against fashion forecasts. Which, I am told now, is not something you should definitely NOT do.

But that's Marc Jacobs. There's no should or shouldn't. Just creativity flowing in all the right ways.

His ready to wear collection for Spring-Summer 2010 had enough to prove my opinion right.
He had these looks that seemed to be new and interesting takes on traditional business suits (basically because I can actually picture really serious yet fashionable women wearing these to office).

Okay, maybe not so much the frilly pants and the grandma skirt, but you get the picture. (Note: the outfit in the centre gets brownie points for having an Asian model)
Of course, he also had odd yet strangely attractive looks like this modernized, extra glittery MC Hammer outfit:

Notice the wonderful parachute pants I'd love to use the next time I jump on a trampoline.

Unfortunately, there was one item I saw in this collection that I could not and probably will never appreciate. This is one thing that, even if you hold me by my ankles out of the window on the top floor of the tallest building in the world, I will not use. I'd choose to give myself a difficult time holding everything in my hands or lug around a huge yet empty backpack over wearing one of these.
Know what it is yet? That's right. Marc Jacobs actually thought that Fanny Packs could be brought back into vogue. No, I'm not kidding. Here's the proof:

Now, don't get me wrong, I'm all for bringing back a few trends from past decades, but a fanny pack is a fanny pack. No matter what fabric you use or what label you put it under, it's still not fashionable. Sorry, Marc Jacobs. I love you, but this just doesn't work.